Melbourne, VIC
School holiday activities in Melbourne
VIC school holiday dates, and the places and programs in Melbourne that vacation care services, early learning centres and families book most. Prices and how to book come from each venue’s or provider’s own site, or an activity agency.
Summer holidays: Sat 19 Dec to Wed 27 Jan
VIC school holiday dates
Summer holidays 2026
Saturday 19 December 2026 to Wednesday 27 January 2027
Autumn holidays 2027
Friday 26 March 2027 to Sunday 11 April 2027
Winter holidays 2027
Saturday 26 June 2027 to Sunday 11 July 2027
Spring holidays 2027
Saturday 18 September 2027 to Sunday 3 October 2027
Dates are for government schools. Independent and Catholic schools can differ by a day or two.
For the next holidays in Melbourne
What families and vacation care groups book most
Strike Bowling Melbourne Central
Melbourne, VIC
Play & arcade
$32 per session
Holey Moley Crown Melbourne
Southbank, VIC
Play & arcade
$12
Strike Bowling Qv
Melbourne, VIC
Play & arcade
$23 per child
Holey Moley Melbourne Cbd
Melbourne, VIC
Play & arcade
$14 per child
PLAYit
Southbank, VIC
Play & arcade
$12 per child
Escape Room Melbourne (ERM)
South Melbourne, VIC
Play & arcade
from $39 per child
Hardrock
Melbourne, VIC
Active & sport
$18 per child
O'Brien Icehouse
Docklands, VIC
Active & sport
$12 per group
Indoor and rainy day ideas
Indoor venues for when the weather turns
Virtual Room
West Melbourne, VIC
Play & arcade
from $39 per child
Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium
Melbourne, VIC
Animals & nature
from $25 per child
Rush Escape Game
South Yarra, VIC
Play & arcade
$600
Archie Brothers Cirque Electriq Melbourne
Docklands, VIC
Play & arcade
$14 per child
Zero Latency VR
Docklands, VIC
Play & arcade
$14 per child
ACMI
Melbourne, VIC
Museums & culture
Price on request
Australian Museum of Performing Arts
Melbourne, VIC
Museums & culture
Price on request
Strike Bowling Highpoint
Maribyrnong, VIC
Play & arcade
$32 per session
Good for toddlers
Places that list ages from 2 or under
BOUNCE Glen Iris
Glen Iris, VIC
Active & sport · Play & arcade
$25 per session
BOUNCE Essendon Fields
Essendon Fields, VIC
Active & sport · Play & arcade
$25 per session
Collingwood Children's Farm
Abbotsford, VIC
Animals & nature
$430 per group
BOUNCE Heidelberg
AUSTRALIA, VIC
Active & sport · Play & arcade
$25 per session
BOUNCE Blackburn
Blackburn North, VIC
Active & sport · Play & arcade
$25 per session
BOUNCE Hoppers Crossing
Hoppers Crossing, VIC
Active & sport · Play & arcade
$25 per session
BOUNCE Keysborough
Keysborough, VIC
Active & sport · Play & arcade
$25 per session
BOUNCE Frankston
Frankston, VIC
Active & sport · Play & arcade
$25 per session
Animals & nature
Zoos, farms, aquariums and wildlife parks
Melbourne Zoo
Parkville, VIC
Animals & nature
Price on request
Coburg Aquarium
Batman, VIC
Animals & nature
Price on request
Marine Fish
Gilberton, VIC
Animals & nature
Price on request
Werribee Open Range Zoo
Werribee, VIC
Animals & nature
from $12.42 per group
Werribee Open Range Zoo
Werribee, VIC
Animals & nature
from $29 per child
Valley Park Riding School
Templestowe, VIC
Animals & nature
$105 per child
Bundoora Park Farm
La Trobe University, VIC
Animals & nature
Price on request
Collingwood Children's Farm Apiary
Abbotsford, VIC
Animals & nature
Price on request
Free things to do with kids
Parks, playgrounds, beaches and libraries with no ticket
All Nations Skate Park
Northcote, VIC
Parks & outdoors
Free entry
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Dandenong Ranges Botanic Garden
Olinda, VIC
Animals & nature · Parks & outdoors
Free entry
Golfwood Close Reserve
Cheltenham, VIC
Parks & outdoors
Free entry
Konewark Child and Family Centre
Officer, VIC
Museums & culture
Free entry
Rampit Indoor Skate Park
Bayswater, VIC
Parks & outdoors
Free entry
The System Garden
Carlton, VIC
Animals & nature · Parks & outdoors
Free entry
Allara Avenue Playground
Maribyrnong, VIC
Parks & outdoors
Free entry
Allwood Gardens
Hurstbridge, VIC
Animals & nature · Parks & outdoors
Free entry
Incursions that come to you
Shows and workshops for vacation care services and schools
Colour Run - Water Guns Melbourne
Comes to services in Melbourne
Water play · Games & challenges
$550 per session
Mobile Butterfly House Melbourne
Comes to services in Melbourne
Animals · Magic & comedy
$660 per session
Axe Throwing Melbourne
Comes to services in Melbourne
Games & challenges
$490 per session
Face Painter Melbourne
Comes to services in Melbourne
Art & craft · Water play
$320 per session
Gem Mining/Crystal Quest Melbourne
Comes to services in Melbourne
Science & STEM
$525 per session
Wildlife and Reptile Show Melbourne
Comes to services in Melbourne
Animals · Nature & sustainability · Shows
$500 per session
Rush Escape Game
Based in South Yarra
Escape room
$600
Australian Museum of Performing Arts
Based in Melbourne
Museum
Price on request
School holiday questions about Melbourne
When are the next school holidays in VIC?
The next VIC government school holidays run from Saturday 19 December 2026 to Wednesday 27 January 2027. Independent and Catholic schools can differ by a day or two.
What can kids do on a rainy day in Melbourne?
Indoor venues in Melbourne include Strike Bowling Melbourne Central, Holey Moley Crown Melbourne, Strike Bowling Qv and Holey Moley Melbourne Cbd. Book ahead in the holidays: indoor places fill first when it rains.
Where can kids see animals in Melbourne?
Zoos, farms and wildlife parks in and around Melbourne include Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium, Melbourne Zoo, Collingwood Children's Farm and Coburg Aquarium.
Are there free things to do with kids in Melbourne in the school holidays?
Yes. We list 111 free places in Melbourne, such as parks, playgrounds, beaches and libraries. Libraries and councils also run free holiday programs, so check their sites.
Which incursions come to vacation care services in Melbourne?
114 incursion programs and providers travel to services and schools in Melbourne: animal shows, science, circus, music and more. Book early for the holidays.
How do I plan a vacation care program for the holidays?
Start with the dates, then mix excursions and incursions across the weeks. Keep an indoor option for each outdoor day, and add free days at parks or libraries to manage cost. Shortlist ideas, then book directly with each venue or provider.
More in Melbourne
- Melbourne
- Vacation care excursions
- Indoor activities for kids
- Animals & nature excursions
- Museums & culture excursions
- Active & sport excursions
- Play & arcade excursions
- Pools & water excursions
- Parks & outdoors excursions
- Shows & movies excursions
- Arts & making excursions
- Things to do with kids
- Kids party venues
- School excursions
- Vacation care incursions
- School incursions
- Childcare incursions